Pakistan enters AI era with inauguration of largest data centre at Capital Smart City

Pakistan enters AI era with inauguration of largest data centre at Capital Smart City

Pakistan has taken a major step towards becoming a regional digital technology hub with the inauguration of Sky47 Karakoram-01, the country’s largest AI-ready data centre and cloud platform, at Capital Smart City near Islamabad.

The facility was jointly inaugurated by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, during a ceremony attended by federal ministers, senior government officials, business leaders, technology experts and representatives of the IT sector.

Developed by Sky47 in collaboration with the Habib Rafiq Group, the state-of-the-art facility has been designed to deliver artificial intelligence computing, cloud services, secure data hosting, cybersecurity and high-performance computing infrastructure. The project is expected to strengthen Pakistan’s digital economy by enabling businesses, financial institutions, government organisations and technology companies to securely host and process data within the country while supporting the rapid growth of AI applications.

The project also reinforces Capital Smart City’s ambition to become Pakistan’s premier destination for data centres, cloud computing and advanced technology investment. With its modern infrastructure, strategic location and dedicated technology zones, the city is positioning itself as a future hub for digital innovation and AI-led development.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described Sky47 as a landmark project that would help shape Pakistan’s future and strengthen the country’s digital capabilities. He said the successful completion of the project within a short period reflected extraordinary commitment, professional expertise and determination.

The Prime Minister said projects such as Sky47 were essential for building a dynamic, progressive and technologically advanced Pakistan. Referring to Pakistan’s recent achievements, he said that when the nation confronts challenges with determination, optimism and resilience, it is capable of accomplishing historic milestones. He described the project as an important guarantee for Pakistan’s future and said it would provide robust digital security for the country.

He also paid tribute to Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for his visionary leadership and acknowledged the support of technology partner ZTE, Federal Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja, the Ministry of IT and all stakeholders involved in making the project a reality. The Prime Minister announced that similar state-of-the-art facilities would also be developed in Karachi and Lahore and called for government institutions to make full use of the new infrastructure.

The Habib Rafiq Group, under the leadership of Zahid Rafiq, has played a pivotal role in delivering the project and expanding Capital Smart City’s vision beyond real estate into technology-led infrastructure. Industry observers believe the initiative will help attract further domestic and international investment in artificial intelligence, cloud computing and digital services.

Speaking at the ceremony, Federal Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the inauguration of Sky47 marked the beginning of a new era of artificial intelligence in Pakistan. She said the project would open the door to a new phase of economic growth by enabling the country to make better use of its digital resources, skilled workforce and data-driven innovation. She added that the future global AI race would depend on the secure, efficient and intelligent use of data.

Sky47 Chief Executive Officer Hassan Abbas said there are around 12,000 data centres worldwide but only 22 in Pakistan, highlighting the country’s significant growth potential. He said Pakistan’s e-commerce sector is expanding by around 25 to 30 per cent annually and that Sky47 would provide a strong foundation for the country’s digital economy.

The Sky47 data centre has the capability to support artificial intelligence, machine learning and high-performance computing while providing cloud computing, secure data hosting and enterprise digital services. It is also expected to play an important role in safeguarding sensitive national and commercial information.

The inauguration is being viewed as one of Pakistan’s most significant technology milestones in recent years, reflecting the country’s ambition to build sovereign digital infrastructure and reduce reliance on overseas data hosting. Supporters of the initiative describe it as a major breakthrough achieved under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, with the support of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and an important step towards positioning Pakistan as a regional hub for artificial intelligence, cloud computing and next-generation digital technologies.